Review and pictures by: Michael

03-10-2025

There’s something uniquely satisfying about seeing a band like Antimatter in a venue like Iduna. No massive stage setups, no over-the-top lighting rigs, just raw emotion, a tight sound, and a crowd that came for the music. On this crisp October evening in Drachten, Mick Moss delivered exactly that.

Iduna’s intimate layout worked in favor of the night’s vibe. While the venue wasn’t packed to the brim, there was plenty of space to move, breathe, and let the music sink in. The audience, though modest in number, was anything but passive. From the first notes of “Existential,” you could feel the collective heartbeat of the room sync with Moss’s melancholic melodies.

But of course, no live show is complete without a few hiccups. Moss found himself “strapped in” early on due to some technical issues, his guitar rig apparently had other plans. Add to that a rebellious earpiece that refused to cooperate, and you’d think the mood might sour. Not here. Moss handled it with a mix of dry humor and stoic professionalism, turning potential frustration into a shared chuckle with the crowd. It was the kind of moment that reminded you: this is live music, and that’s part of the charm.

The setlist was a journey through Antimatter’s rich discography. “Killer” and “Uniformed & Black” brought a sharp edge, while “Liquid Light” and “Saviour” wrapped the room in a blanket of introspection. The Dead Can Dance cover “Black Sun” was a haunting highlight, and “The Freak Show” added a theatrical twist. “Fighting for a Lost Cause” and “Angelic” hit with emotional weight, and “Stillborn Empires” and “Dream” closed the main set with a sense of catharsis.

When the main set wrapped up, Moss didn’t bother with the usual encore theatrics. No dramatic exit, no prolonged silence, just a nod and a continuation into the first encore, which felt more like a natural extension of the performance. “Monochrome” and “Paranova” kept the mood flowing. And then came the second encore, an unexpected bonus. “Leaving Eden” was the perfect send-off, a final emotional gut-punch that lingered long after the last chord faded.

And then came the merch moment. Instead of a flashy stand or a crew member hawking shirts, Moss himself emerged at the front of the stage with a handful of CDs and some cash. No table, no signage, just the man, his music, and a few albums for sale. It was oddly charming, like buying records from a friend after a jam session. Fans gathered around, chatted, and picked up a piece of the night to take home.

No support act meant the evening was all Antimatter, all the time, and honestly, it didn’t need anything else. Moss’s presence filled the room, and the stripped-down setup only amplified the intimacy of the performance.

Antimatter at Iduna wasn’t just a gig, it was a shared experience. Technical glitches and all, it reminded us why we chase live music: for the connection, the imperfection, and the moments that linger long after the last note fades.

1. Setlist
   Existential
2. Killer
3. Uniformed & Black
4. Can of Worms
5. Heathen
6. Liquid Light
7. Saviour
8. Black Sun (Dead Can Dance cover)
9. The Freak Show
10. Fighting for a Lost Cause
11. Angelic
12. The Last Laugh
13. Stillborn Empires
14. DreamEncore:
15. Monochrome
16. ParanovaEncore 2:
17. Leaving Eden

Antimatter Drachten